If those backpacks could talk - what would they say?

Welcome to school year 2013-2014!

Are you and your kids prepared? Are you planning on doing the last-minute rush to the store for school supplies? Once you’ve done that, how are you going to keep everything organized to avoid frustration and stress every morning once school starts?

If you keep these 3 tips in mind you won’t just reduce stress but you can also help your kids avoid unnecessary frustration on school mornings.

Rule 1: Everything has to have a home (labeled clearly so everyone knows where that home is)

Rule 2: Group like items (and, label them clearly)

Rule 3: Establish daily patterns to maintain order and consistency

If you designate a permanent place for backpacks, lunch bags and sports gear, you can avoid them ending up all over the house and on the floor! Children can be taught to take care of their stuff if are given a clear idea on what you expect.

When you designate a home for their stuff, make sure your kids have easy access to it (don’t put things up too high where they can’t reach). Assign a home for textbooks, homework/assignment sheets, binders and refill sheets and other school supplies so they won`t pile up on your kitchen counter or your dining table.

Also, clutter accumulates easily if you don`t get rid of the old unused belongings. If you haven’t gotten rid of last year`s school books, better to do it now!

If they have their own desk, create clear zones to separate school stuff and electronics/games/toys, etc. Same goes for their own room. Each kid should have their own zone where they store their books and personal items, and make sure they are clearly separated and label their bins or boxes so they can learn the new rules easily. Especially apply this with younger and older kids (preschoolers may need a photo on their bin rather than words, or try both).

Be creative and add some fun to school stuff, like printing labels for their bins or lockers, color coding on calendars, task lists, etc.

For younger kids use pictures instead of labels to make it more fun. Involving your children when creating a new organizational system can help them to acquire organizational habits much faster and more efficiently.